Spraying apparatus



A ril 18, 1967 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 JOSEPH L. LuMURA INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,314,578 SPRAYING APPARATUS Joseph L. La Mura, 367 Passaic Ave, West Caldwell, NJ. 07006 Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,842 3 Claims. (Cl. 222402.25)

This invention relates to an apparatus for spraying a liquid from a single tank through a flexible helical hose and a small orifice. The invention has particular reference to a means for storing a large amount of pressurized liquid mixed with gas. A convenient handle is provided for holding and directing the spraying means. A finger operated valve is positioned on the handle.

This invention relates especially to aerosol sprays where a liquid is mixed with a pressurized gas such as Freon. The mixture is released through a small nozzle, the pressure of the container causing the liquid to be ejected and, when the liquid is ejected, the dissolved gas vaporizes and produces a fine spray which can be used in many applications. Many types of liquids have been packaged in small cans which are designed to be held in the hand. The liquids used range from hair spray liquids, paint, varnish, pesticides, and lubricating fluids. While these small cans are useful and convenient to use, the restriction of weight limits the amount of liquid in the can. After several minutes operating time, the liquid is used up and the can must be discarded. The present invention employs a large heavy can which may hold as much as two gallons of liquid together with the usual percentage of pressurized gas. Because of the weight of this can, it is either left on the floor or supported on some type of bracket. A pressurized flexible helical tube is connected between the tank and a handle which includes a fine nozzle and a valve. With this equipment the spray can be used tor a long time and the weight of the handle and the tube is less than the usual pressurized can, thereby increasing the mobility and the usefulness of this type of apparatus.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved spraying apparatus which avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to increase the mobility of spraying equipment by providing a light weight handle and a finger operated valve and nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic valve on the tank, this valve being normally closed but arranged to be opened when the flexible cord terminal is screwed into place on the tank valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible tube which normally is in the form of a tight helical coil but is readily extended by an operator for at least six feet.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of spray equipment and for increasing the renewal period for each tank.

The spraying apparatus includes a large tank with a normally closed valve secured to the upper end. A flexible helical tube is connected between the tank and a spraying applicator handle which includes a nozzle and valve. The connection between the tank and the tube includes a means for opening the tank valve by applying a terminal connection to the valve.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the entire equipment showing the tank, the helical tube, and the handle.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the tank valve with the tube coupling attached.

3,314,578 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the handle showing the nozzle and the finger operated valve.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 2 and is taken along line 44 of that figure.

FIG. 5 is another cross sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 2 but is taken along line 5--5 of that figure.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the lower portion of the handle shown in FIG. 3 and shows an alternate arrangement for holding the two halves of the handle together.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the entire apparatus comprises a tank 10 having a crimped-on upper portion 11 and a valve 12 positioned at the center of the upper portion. A helical tube 13 is secured to valve 1-2 by means of a fitting 14 while the other end of the tube 13 extends into a handle 15 which includes two halves 16 and 17 of a hollow cylinder. The lower end of the handle is held together by a circular clamp 18 and the upper end of the handle is terminated by a valve assembly 20 which includes a plastic nozzle 21. Within the tank 10 there is positioned a dip tube 22 which is connected to the lower inside portion of valve 12. The helical tube 13 is strong enough to withstand the gas pressure (35 to 40 pounds per square inch) and the only valve which holds the liquid and gas mixture within the system is the terminal valve and nozzle 21. In order to provide convenient replacement for additional tanks, the combination of tank valve 12 and fitting 14 is made automatic so that the valve 12 is opened whenever the fitting is attached.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the details of the valve 12 and its fitting 14 are shown. The main portion of the valve is crimped around an extending rim 23 integral with the top portion 11 of the tank. A cylindrical plastic insert 24 is secured to the valve base 25 which includes a threaded portion 26. The plastic cylinder 24 also includes a valve seat 27 into which is fitted a small metal sphere 28 which normally closes the valve and prevents the escape of the gas when the fitting 14 is not attached. The lower portion of cylinder 24 contains slots 30 which permit the gas to pass through the valve and up to an axial opening 31 when the valve is open. Plastic cylinder 24 is preferably cast in place within the valve base 25 and includes a circular ridge 32 which holds it in place.

The fitting 14 contains an internal threaded portion 33, an upper cylindrical portion 34, and an end portion 35 for making connection with the helical tube 13. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion 34 is provided with an annular slot which supports an O ring 36. Also, within portion 34 is a perforated washer 37 containing a plurality of holes 38 and a central stylus 4%. This stylus extends into the hollow portion 31 of cylinder 24 and, when the fitting is secured to the valve base, the stylus makes contact with sphere 28 and moves it to the position shown in FIG. 2, thereby opening the valve and permitting the pressurized solution within the tank to move up through the valve and into the flexible tube 13.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the handle includes a split cylinder 15 whose halves 16 and 17 are held together at the top by a cap which forms the lower base portion of the valve and orifice 21. The handle halves may be screwed into the base portion 20 of the cap or they may be attached by any other convenient means. The base portion 20 includes a centrally aligned tube extension 41 for attachment to the other end of tube 13. A band clamp 42 may be used to hold the tubes together. The upper portion 21 of the valve and orifice combination may include any convenient type of valve. The valve shown in FIG. 3 includes a conical valve seat 43, a valve 44 which fits on the seat, and a valve spindle 45 which may extend upwardly into the orifice member 21A so that the valve may be opened when the upper portion is depressed. The

upper portion 21A seats against a rubber washer 46 so that the valve is closed normally and may be opened only when pressure is applied to the nozzle portion and the rubber washer 46 compressed.

At the lower extremity of the handle 15 turned-over portions 47 provide a hole for positioning tube 13. The

two halves as described above may be held in operating position by a band clamp 18. FIG. 6 shows an alternate arrangement whereby the lower portions of the handle are threaded and a screw cap 48 is screwed onto the two halves to hold them securely in position.

The operation of this device has been indicated by the above description of the parts. When a new container is to replace an exhausted container, the fitting 14 is unscrewed from the valve 12. Any residual pressure within the tank closes the valve at once and the liquid is not permitted to escape. The fitting 14 is now screwed onto the new tank valve and as soon as it is in position, the valve 27-28 is opened and the material within the tank passes through the dip tube 22 and fills the flexible tube 13. The apparatus is now ready for continued use. A slight pressure on the nozzle portion 21A opens valve 44-13 and the spray material moves through tube 13 and the nozzle opening.

The foregoing disclosure and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. The only limitations are to be determined from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A spray assembly comprising: a tank for storing a mixture of a liquid and a gas under pressure, a fitting secured to one end of the tank for connection to an exit conduit, said fitting including a self-closing pressure-operated valve having a movable valve element for sealing contact against a valve seat; a helical flexible tube for conveying the liquid and gas mixture from the tank to an exit port; said tube being resiliently prestressed so as to form a closed helical coil when not forced to an expanded position; a screw valve fitting secured to one end of said helical tube for connection to the tank fitting, said valve fitting including a stylus for opening the pressure operated valve by displacing the movable valve element whenever the valve fitting is attached to the tank fitting; and an exit nozzle including a manually operated exit valve connected to the other end of the helical flexible tube for spraying the mixture into the atmosphere.

2. A spray assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable valve element is a sphere.

3. A spray assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stylus is axially mounted on a transverse washer in said screw valve fitting, said washer formed with a plurality of openings for the passage of the fluid and gas mixture.

References Qited by the Examiner UNETED STATES PATENTS 748,364 12/1903 Gordon 239-552 X 1,919,500 7/1933 Carpenter 62-511 1,929,719 10/ 1933 Werder. 2,621,830 12/1952 Stow et al. 3,134,515 5/1964 Callahan 222-527 X 3,151,640 10/1964 Teston 141-349 3,189,232 6/1965 Jotle 222-529 X 3,212,677 10/1965 H'ornas 222-529 X 3,216,466 11/1965 Simko 141-349 X 3,241,723 3/1966 Lerner 222-394 X FOREIGN PATENTS 141,187 3/1935 Austria.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPRAY ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A TANK FOR STORING A MIXTURE OF A LIQUID AND A GAS UNDER PRESSURE, A FITTING SECURED TO ONE END OF THE TANK FOR CONNECTION TO AN EXIT CONDUIT, SAID FITTING INCLUDING A SELF-CLOSING PRESSURE-OPERATED VALVE HAVING A MOVABLE VALVE ELEMENT FOR SEALING CONTACT AGAINST A VALVE SEAT; A HELICAL FLEXIBLE TUBE FOR CONVEYING THE LIQUID AND GAS MIXTURE FROM THE TANK TO AN EXIT PORT; SAID TUBE BEING RESILIENTLY PRESTRESSED SO AS TO FORM A CLOSED HELICAL COIL WHEN NOT FORCED TO AN EXPANDED POSITION; A SCREW VALVE FITTING SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID HELICAL TUBE FOR CONNECTION TO THE TANK FITTING, SAID VALVE FITTING INCLUDING A STYLUS FOR OPENING THE PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE BY DISPLACING THE MOVABLE VALVE ELEMENT WHENEVER THE VALVE FITTING IS ATTACHED TO THE TANK FITTING; AND AN EXIT NOZZLE INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERATED EXIT VALVE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF THE HELICAL FLEXIBLE TUBE FOR SPRAYING THE MIXTURE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. 